S*1068 Concurrent Resolution, By Wilson and Courson
 A Concurrent Resolution expressing the congratulations and best wishes of the
 members of the General Assembly to Mr. Raymond Samuel Younginer of Irmo in
 Lexington County on becoming a centenarian on February 7, 1996, and further
 expressing appreciation for his long life of service to his country, state,
 and community as a veteran of the First World War, a long and distinguished
 career with the United States Post Office, and numerous community activities.

   01/25/96  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-15
   01/30/96  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-6

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

EXPRESSING THE CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MR. RAYMOND SAMUEL YOUNGINER OF IRMO IN LEXINGTON COUNTY ON BECOMING A CENTENARIAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 1996, AND FURTHER EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR HIS LONG LIFE OF SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY, STATE, AND COMMUNITY AS A VETERAN OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER WITH THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE, AND NUMEROUS COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.

Whereas, the General Assembly notes that Raymond Samuel Younginer was born on February 7, 1896, in the Dutch Fork area of the site of the present St. Andrews Presbyterian Church; and thus on February 7, 1996, will be celebrating the centenary of his birth; and

Whereas, Raymond Samuel Younginer is the fifth of ten children born to Samuel Thomas and Mary Lou Shealy Younginer; and

Whereas, Raymond Samuel Younginer is a descendant of Emanuel Seastrunk, a munitions maker during the Revolutionary War; and

Whereas, at the age of twenty-two, Mr. Younginer was drafted into the United States Army on June 24, 1918, trained at Camp Jackson, was shipped to France, and assigned to the 21st Heavy Artillery of the 5th Division with which unit he served during the remainder of the First World War; and

Whereas, Mr. Younginer recalls that one night on a battlefield, he heard one of his favorite hymns, "Since Jesus Came Into My Heart" being sung by fellow soldiers in a nearby tent and soon the night air was filled by other soldiers joining in the song. He served as a member of the occupation troops and returned to the United States in July 1919 aboard the T.S.S. Rotterdam; and

Whereas, Raymond Samuel Younginer returned to his farm in Irmo and married Gertrue Petty of Greenville. On February 18, 1996, Mr. and Mrs. Younginer will celebrate their seventy-third wedding anniversary. They are the parents of six children with seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren; and

Whereas, Mr. Younginer was appointed postmaster of Irmo in 1929 in which position he served for almost twenty years and then transferred to the position of rural letter carrier. After thirty-eight years and at the age of seventy, Mr. Younger retired from the postal service; and

Whereas, Raymond Samuel Younginer was elected chairman of the Irmo precinct of the Lexington County Registration and Election Commission and served in that capacity for fifteen years; and

Whereas, Mr. Younginer has been a devout member of the Irmo Pentecostal Holiness Church and has served as officer, Sunday school teacher, and choir leader; and

Whereas, Raymond Samuel Younginer has served many years as chaplain of American Legion Post 7 in Lexington, South Carolina, where he is the sole surviving First World War veteran; and

Whereas, the extraordinary attainment of a centennial birthday connects us with the whole history of the nation, bridging the generations, as we recall that Mr. Younginer shared his childhood with veterans of the War Between the States then in vigorous middle age, who, in their youth in turn heard stories of the American Revolution from the mouths of veterans of that remote conflict; and

Whereas, Mr. Younginer has rendered faithful and good service to his God, his country, and his State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly express their congratulations and best wishes to Mr. Raymond Samuel Younginer of Irmo in Lexington County on becoming a centenarian on February 7, 1996, and further express their appreciation for a long life of service to his country, State, and community, as a veteran of the First World War, a long and distinguished career with the United States Post Office, and numerous community activities.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Raymond Samuel Younginer.